Whether Geelong manages to scrape into September or not, an off-season of change looms large.
Plus the recent St Kilda recruit who could find a third home if they get daring.
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BRUTAL CATS CULL LOOMS AS YOUNG GUNS WEIGH UP EXITS
Geelong is facing a series of tough calls on its extensive list of veterans with players including Zach Tuohy, Isaac Smith, Sam Menegola and Jon Ceglar potentially on their way out this off-season.
And while young gun Max Holmes won’t be moving despite rumoured Collingwood links, it’s expected tall Esava Ratugolea will again seek a move elsewhere, while fringe midfielder Brandan Parfitt could join him.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch “a changing of the guard” looms at the premiers, who remain a roughly 50-50 chance of playing finals, but would need to fight from outside the top four if they’re to defend their flag.
“The Cats are aware they need to go back to the draft and in a significant way, reinvest in the kids. The plus-30s have been so good, won them a flag – there’s 13 of them now, so tough decisions ahead,” Ralph said on Fox Footy.
“More to the point, the end of an era of topping up, big decisions ahead on the likes of Ceglar, Menegola, Tuohy, Smith. Chris Scott hinted at it and I think the Freo loss solidified it.
“Max Holmes is going nowhere; the rumour mill was massive, in overdrive, Collingwood wants him, he wants Collingwood, dropped for the Grand Final. I’ve spoken to his manager in Tom Seccull though and he says nothing is doing on that front. He’s happy, he’s committed, he’s the future of that midfield.
“The Cats are aware though Esava Ratugolea will almost certainly ask for a trade; Port Adelaide, Essendon, Hawthorn (interested).
“Brandan Parfitt one that’s considering his future, so they’ve got to hold at least one of those two and go back to the draft, while ignoring some of the free agents they thought who could potentially come to the club.”
$3M SAINT TO FIND THIRD CLUB?
St Kilda’s Dougal Howard could join a third AFL club with the 27-year-old defender gaining interest on the trade market amid a potential key back merry-go-round.
The one-time Port Adelaide captain requested a trade to the Saints after the 2019 season, and signed a five-year deal on a salary up to $600,000 in the process.
But he has not quite lived up to the standard expected of the deal, finishing outside the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest in 2022.
While Howard is contracted for one more season the Herald Sun reports he has gathered interest from clubs looking at the talls on the market, including North Melbourne’s Ben McKay, Geelong’s Esava Ratugolea, Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher and GWS’ Harry Himmelberg.
The report also states the Saints are willing to make bold decision to reinvigorate their list which appears caught in the middle of the AFL pecking order.
